Harmful legislation signed today by Governor Mike Pence of Indiana will allow business owners to refuse to follow anti-discrimination protections and other laws based on religious objections. In an opinion piece for the Chicago Tribune, Rex Huppke notes that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, now Indiana law, will most likely harm lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, as they are not protected under the state's anti-discrimination laws like they are in Illinois, where discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity is prohibited. The ACLU of Indiana and the National ACLU had petitioned Governor Pence to veto the bill, but to no avail. The ACLU remains concerned about similar bills in other states that have been introduced. Huppke spoke with ACLU of Illinois Communications and Public Policy Director Ed Yohnka:
“I think Indiana may be the tip of the spear,” said Ed Yohnka, spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. “If we get a favorable ruling on marriage equality from the court, then there probably are a number of states where there will be an attempt to pass this kind of legislation. Somehow the person being discriminated against has become the business owner who is discriminating against someone.”
